AEK-Panathinaikos: Top derby at OPAP Arena!

And now the two of them!

The two, probably, big favorites to win the championship – in the great battle that takes place again this year (to a greater extent even than last year’s, also great) – face off on Wednesday (24/4, 20:30) at the store OPAP Arena. AEK vs. Panathinaikos, therefore, in the context of the 7th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League playoffs. At a critical juncture now, where every game is a “final” and, in this case, tonight can play an important role in the final outcome.

The match will be televised from Cosmote Sport 1 HDradioed by News Bulletin 247while there will be live updates from sport-fm.gr.

A top derby, with the “yellow and black” being in the first place (72b.)in the +1 from the “greens” (2nd, 71b.). They are followed in 3rd place by PAOK (67 points) and in 4th place by Olympiacos (66 points), but both with less matches (the one between them in Toumba which was postponed at the mercy of Europe).

It should also be noted that if AEK is not defeated in tonight’s match, they will beat Panathinaikos in a possible match between them parity (the next criterion after each other is the ranking order in the regular season, with the “double-header” having finished above Panathinaikos). On the other hand, the “clover” only needs the win to excel in this criterion.

In any case, of course, the main goal of both teams is the “three points”. The hosts, on the other hand, to become the great favourites for the title, and the guests to overtake their opponents and to climb to the top.

Both come from victories, two streaks for AEK, four for Panathinaikos.

Last Sunday (21/4) “Union” won a dramatic “double” (1-2) with a twist on it Marsthanks on the one hand to a storming second half, on the other hand to the “golden” goal of its leader in the match, Nordin Amrabad. A few hours earlier, the “greens” were carrying out an imposing passage (0-5) from its headquarters Lamiaswith their great protagonists Tasso Bakaseta–Fotis Ioannidis (two goals and the same number of assists the first, two goals and one assist the second).

As far as today’s meeting is concerned, the fans of both had planned concentrations…busters in the hotels catalyzed by their teams. However, both that of AEK’s friends, as well as that of Panathinaikos, accepted the “stop” by the Police.

For its part, the “yellow and black” PAE has drawn attention to its friends who will be at the OPAP Arena.

AEK’s schedule for the remaining matches: PAOK (away), Olympiacos (away), Lamia (inside).

The schedule of Panathinaikos for the remaining matches: Aris (in), PAOK (out), Olympiacos (in).

In the competitive part now, the two teams have not announced an assignment.

At AEK, however, the fun continued in training on Tuesday (23/4). And this because, after the returns of Levi and Mandala that took place on Monday (22/4), the same thing happened in yesterday’s training with them Gacinovic and Stankovic. While in the end, he didn’t get any problem Amrabad from the game with Aris, as was initially given the impression during his change. Hence all the aforementioned are at the disposal of Matias Almeidas. So, at the moment the problems in the “yellow and black” concern them Mukudi and Pissarro.

On the other hand, Panathinaikos – whose assignment is expected to be announced today – remains to be seen if the Bernard, who was forced to change in the match against Lamia, will be able to present himself. For Fatih Terim’s team, O remains out Schenkefeldwho on Tuesday (23/4) followed an individual program, like the long-term injured, Magnuson and Palmer-Brown.

Possible compositions:

AEK (Matias Almeida): Athanasiadis – Rota, Vida, Cullens, Hadjisafi – Eliasson, Jonsson, Szymanski, Pineda – Ponce, Zuber.

Panathinaikos (Fatih Terim): Dragovski – Kotsiras, Akaidin, Gedvai, Huancar – Arao, Tserin, Bakasetas – Limnios, Ioannidis, Verbits.

Referee: Willy Delazo (France)

First Assistant: Finzan Erwan (France)

Second Assistant: Jean Philippe (France)

4th referee: Aristotle Diamantopoulos

VAR: Castro Alexandre (France)

Each team has one win in their meetings this season, while one game has ended in a draw. Specifically, in the context of the normal duration, in the first round, AEK had prevailed 2-1 on the Avenue, while the second round match had come 2-2 in the closed doors (due to the then measures against fan violence) OPAP Arena. Three weeks ago, for the playoffs, Panathinaikos won 2-1 home.

In 73 meetings between the two rivals in the championship with AEK as host:

30 AEK wins

20 ties

23 Panathinaikos wins

Goal: 85-76